First things first, here is a list of important applications that can help you neutralize unwanted traces of external storage. [USBDeview] ► Manually remove traces from USB sticks and other external devices [USBOblivion] ► Automatic cleaner that removes every possible trace of inserted external storage [Shellbag Analyzer] ► Remove shellbag keys that contain information about your personal activities like: folder names, paths to folders [including deleted ones]. It is also a good idea to look in the registry to make sure that all traces have been completely removed.

Following instructions successfully tested with [Geforce RTX 3090Ti] on recent [474.66 driver] [October 2023]. In newer operating systems things could be entirely different. It’s been a fair amount of time since I’ve written about privacy related stuff. In early days ~2017 nvidia was not so obsessed with telemetry. Everything you should do to block their efforts is to run [Disable Nvidia Telemetry] . As time goes on things changed dramatically.

UPDATED ON: 2023-09-06 Some new parameters were added. Note that by default all [Nightly versions] of Firefox are sending back telemetry to third-parties in extensive manner. So, to disable such malicious actions besides turning off telemetry settings via standard GUI options: about:preferences#privacy You’ll need to use good old: about:config To change to: FALSE …or create following parameters in software registry: toolkit.telemetry.archive.enabled toolkit.telemetry.enabled toolkit.telemetry.unified toolkit.telemetry.unifiedIsOptIn toolkit.telemetry.bhrPing.enabled toolkit.telemetry.firstShutdownPing.enabled toolkit.telemetry.hybridContent.enabled toolkit.telemetry.newProfilePing.enabled toolkit.telemetry.reportingpolicy.firstRun toolkit.

I often get asked regarding Windows 7 safety especially in 2023. "Is it safe to use such old operating system?" "What about security?" "How about modern viruses?" .... …. and many other similar questions. Funny thing that people who are asking about security don’t give a damn about privacy. Yeah, that’s quite different definitions for sure, but from my point of view they always come together hand in hand. The main and the most important security police officer is your head.

UPDATED ON: 2023-08-31 Not long ago i’ve already mentioned about privacy-hardened [Mull browser] . Very nice Android browser, but have one serious downside: limited amount of supported addons. Yes, i like desktop convenience on the go! To enable additional addons in mobile Firefox browser you’ll need to sideload custom addon collection tied to mozilla account. It’s astonishing fact how they like to implement overcomplicated stuff! To create your own collection you’ll need Firefox account, but i’ll not bother to spent time on such dumb efforts.

It looks like that i found replacement for [Fenec F-Droid] browser, for real. I’m not completely satisfied with not fully removed telemetry, shady stubs and other fishy things presented by Fennec. That is why i begin to investigate the problem and discovered [Mull browser] . Main features of it: DOESN’T DIAL BACK NEITHER TO GOOGLE NOR TO MOZILLA [and that’s a complete steal] based around hardened version of user.js [main FireFox configuration file] frequently updated [keeps up with original Firefox releases] mascot of Mull is rather awful [but who cares?

Without further ado, straight to the facts: last version with sane amount of system services, which can’t be turned off absence of [neural networks API] , which is used for telemetry, collection/profiling user data with subsequent uploading collected information to third-parties [for the first time technology was introduced in Android 8.1] full support of any modern browser [even Android 6.0 can handle this] ability to load legacy Android 2.x applications without any issues [Android 14 is already blocking such apps] I care about older stuff simply because of code quality.

UPDATED ON: 2023-04-07 No chitter here, just plain breakdown of the most important stuff. ► WINDOWS 7 FIREWALL▼ [Outpost Firewall Pro] ◄ very advanced and lightweight firewall with host-based intrusion-prevention and anti-leak systems. Review is [here] . BROWSERS▼ [IceWeasel] ◄ my personal choice to surf web [mozilla crap ripped off] [LibreWolf] ◄ debloated in terms of privacy Firefox with pre-installed uBlock Origin [PaleMoon] ◄ the most mozilla-independent fork of Firefox [but slowly degrading] [Tor Browser] ◄ handy to overcome geo restrictions and other artificial limitations of obsolescent governments Warning: some telemetry is present!

Stop using mainstream operating systems like Windows 11/10/8.1, modern Linux, like Ubuntu or modern MacOS versions. On mobile Android 14/13/12/11/10/9/8.1 are prohibited because they use neural networks to profile your device and dial back to “home” to dump your personal data and preferences. iOS from very beginning was very phony platform. My personal choices are Windows 7 for desktop and Android 8.0 for mobile. These two cover my digital needs fully, no restrictions whatsoever.

I recommend you to use alternative search engines like [Searx.me] or [Duckduckgo] not because g is mining your data and then resells it to marketing agencies for targeted ads, but because if you say something restricted or will be “lucky” to be banned by their anti-spam bot you can lose access to your data forever. Three years ago i had YT channel with [tracker music] where i posted stuff almost daily, also i had [trackers database] hosted on their blogger platform.

Super quick breakdown of the most essential security applications for Android OS. [ADAWAY] ► Effective hosts adblocker [AFWALL+] ► Root-based firewall based on Linux ip-tables [EXODUS] ► Check your applications for telemetry trackers and secure your privacy [YET ANOTHER CALL BLOCKER] ► quality open-source call blocker Forked mod for Russia region . Imagery by spacedrone808 @Adobe Imagery by spacedrone808 @Freepik

UPDATED ON: 2023-01-24 After long consideration my interest is lost, due to understanding the fact that 4G module is 100% closed blackbox, which cancels all privacy benefits of the phone in one stroke. It’s a true thing for official version of the phone. On the bright side there is an [unofficial open-source project] of modem firmware in early alpha. Will report back if something good happens. I bet some of you are already tired of ugly g monopoly with their telemetric data mining platform os-called operating system.

UPDATED ON: 2023-08-05 v0.19.2 ia a last version to run on Windows 7/8.1, but it is not working anymore due to recent YT changes Reasons not to use original YT site and native android clients: Wild censorship and tracking of personal data The most pathetic roayalties to platform contributors Unwilling to listen to contributor community [problem of all big corps] [In previous post] i’ve mentioned about brilliant Android YT client: NewPipe.

Take a note that ugly g 3-4 times a year changing YT API to make artificial difficulties to third-party clients like NewPipe, [FreeTube] , FireTube. So don’t forget to update programs regularly. I’m almost sure that you already know about excellent Android YT client [NewPipe] . It is praised for it’s lightness, speed and freedom from YT closed source API. As you may know that in recent pursuit for profit google increased ads quantities and methods of it’s delivery.

UPDATED ON: 2023-02-06 v1.0b: please [contact me] if you find errors or inaccuracies. In this guide i will quickly show my system configuration tweaked for privacy. I’m using essential stuff like 3G/4G/WiFi & BT. Additional pleasantries are blocked. █ ANDROID 8: OS WITH MINIMAL TELEMETRY Operating System: Android 8.0 [Android 8.1 ain’t good, coz it brought support of neural networks to do effective data mining] Security patch: 1st September 2018 FW Version: 47.

UPDATED ON: 2024-10-23

List will be updated in the future.
Most of the applications can be found on [F-Droid market] and work on Android 8.0.
Permissions checker: [Exodus] .

Some important links for those of you who care about online security and privacy.